Medium-long tour that will take you to places where most famous history of Prague was written. Come with us to the time of Charles IV and forget busy days for a few of hours.
- Prašná brána – Powder Tower
The Powder Tower (Czech: Prašná brána, literally “Powder Gate”) is a Gothic tower in Prague, Czech Republic and one of the old city gates. It is one of the symbols of Prague, leading into the Old Town.Dating from 1475, the Powder Tower was built as one of 13 gates to the city of Prague. When construction began, it was connected (via the small bridge at the right of the photo) to the royal palace. Before construction was completed, however, King Vladislav Jagellonský moved his residence to Prague Castle in 1485. Nevertheless, the Powder Tower remained important to the Bohemian kings – until 1836, the Bohemian monarchs would pass through the Powder Tower on their way to St. Vitus Cathedral for their coronation.As the city grew beyond its old walls, the Powder Tower grew less and less important (except on those rare occasions when a new king was being crowned). By the 17th century, it was being used as a gunpowder storage facility – it was at this time that it developed its name. The tower was severely damaged in 1757 when Prague was occupied by the Prussians, but was eventually restored to its former glory in the 1870s and 1880s.The Powder Tower was designed by master builder Matěj Rejsek based on plans by Peter Parler for the Old Town Bridge Tower at the foot of Charles Bridge. It is now one of the few remnants of the fortifications that once surrounded the city.
- Obecní dům – Municipal House
The Municipal House (Czech: Obecní dům) is a major civic landmark and concert hall in Prague, and an important building in architectural and political history in the Czech Republic. It stands on Náměstí Republiky.Around 1900, the building was commissioned by the city on an odd-shaped lot and the subject of one architectural competition, then another, both unsatisfactory. The job was then simply given to architects Osvald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek, who served as much as artistic coordinators as designers. Construction started in 1905 and it opened in 1912.
The Art Nouveau structure is an artifact of the Czech nationalism of the time and carries a wealth of ornament by some of the leading Czech artists of its day. The main facade features a large ceramic half-dome mosaic above the entry, Homage to Prague, by Karel Špillar. On either side are allegorical sculpture groups representing The Degradation of the People and The Resurrection of the People by Ladislav Šaloun, while the remainder of the rich decoration was done by Josef Mařatka, František Úprka and others, with light stands designed by Karel Novák. Inside there are murals by the famous Alfons Mucha, Jan Preisler and Max Švabinský and others, all of this on nationalist themes.The main space within the Municipal House is the concert space, Smetana Hall, named in honor of Bedřich Smetana. On October 28, 1918, Smetana Hall was the scene of the proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia.
- Celetná ulice – Celetná Street
- sv. Jakub – St. Jacobs Church
One of the largest churches in the country. - Dům u černé matky boží – House of the Black Madonna
The House of the Black Madonna is a cubist building in the “Old Town” area of Prague, Czech republic. It was designed by Josef Gočár. It is currently in use as a small museum of Cubism and is open to the public.The House of the Black Mother (U Černé Matky Boží), sometimes referred to as Black Mother of the Lord, was designed and built between 1911 and 1912 on the corner of Celetná Street and Ovocný trh. Josef Gočár built this house as the first example of cubist architecture in Prague and it remains probably the most celebrated. Even without historical details of the baroque building surrounding it, the House at the Black Madonna maintains the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The house was given its name by the stone sculpture that originally adorned one of the two Baroque buildings on the same lot. After many years altered use in the interwar period and under communist rule, the house was closed in January 2002 and re-opened after extensive restoration in November 2003. - Karolinum – Karolinum
Karolinum (formerly Latin: Collegium Carolinum, in Czech Karlova kolej) is a complex of buildings located in the Old Town of the City of Prague. Karolinum, the seat of the Charles University in Prague, is one of the oldest dormitories situated in the Central Europe. The dormitory was named after the Emperor Charles IV. - Železná ulice – Železná Street
- Staroměstské náměstí – Old Town Square
Old Town Square (Czech: Staroměstské náměstí ) is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague.Located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge, Prague’s Old Town Square is often bursting at the seams with tourists in the summer. Featuring various architectural styles including the gothic Týn Church and baroque St. Nicholas Church, the square is an oasis for travelers wearied by Prague’s narrow streets. Among many churches, tourists may find the Astronomical Clock on this square, while the tower at the Old Town Hall offers a panoramic view of Old Town shop.The square’s center is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who for his beliefs was burned at the stake in Constance. The statue known as the Jan Hus Memorial was erected on July 6, 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of his death.
- Orloj – Prague Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj (Czech: Pražský orloj ) is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. - Staroměstská radnice – Old Town Hall
- Husův pomník – Jan Hus Memorial
- Dům U Zvonu- The Stone Bell House
- Týnský chrám – Týn Church(Church of Our Lady before Týn)The Church of Our Lady before Týn (in Czech Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem, also Týnský chrám (Týn Church) or just Týn) is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, Czech Republic, and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church’s towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires.
- kostel sv. Mikuláše – Saint Nicholas Church
- Mariánské náměstí – Mariánské Square
- Clam-Gallas palác – Clam-Gallas Palace
- Klementinum (areál) – Clementinum
The Clementinum (Klementinum in Czech) is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic. In 2005 the Czech National Library received the UNESCO Jikji prize (Memory of the World). - Křížovnické náměstí – Křížovnické Square
- Kostel sv. Salvátora – St. Saviour’s Church
- Kostel sv. Františka Serafínského – Church of St. František Serafin
- Staroměstská mostecká věž – Old Town Bridge Tower
- Karlův most- Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most ) is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau) until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town and adjacent areas. This “solid-land” connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. The bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been the “Charles Bridge” since 1870.The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas.
At night Charles Bridge is a quiet place, but during the day it changes its face into a very busy venue with painters, owners of kiosks, and vendors alongside numerous tourists crossing the bridge.
- Mostecká ulice – Mostecká Street
Source: wikipedia.org